Consumer News

Toyota Partners with Tesla to Build Electric RAV4 in Canada

August 08, 2011

Toyota and Tesla Motors have confirmed that, beginning in 2012, their jointly developed RAV4 electric vehicle will be built at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada, Inc. (TMMC) in Woodstock, Ontario. Despite what consumers may have heard to the contrary, Toyota is assuring electric car buyers that the 2012 RAV4 EV will definitely be sold to the general public, saying “We anticipate robust public interest in the RAV4 EV and are keen to inform consumers that their future vehicle options include a battery electric Toyota.”

As previously announced, Toyota will pay Tesla approximately $100 million to supply the electric powertrain, which includes the battery, motor, gearbox, and power electronics for the RAV4 EV. Tesla will build the electric powertrains at its production facility in Palo Alto, California, and then ship them to TMMC for final assembly.

2012 RAV4 EV Features

The production model is based on a collaboration between Toyota and Tesla to convert 32 conventional gas-engine RAV4 compact SUVs into fully functional RAV4 EV prototypes; the vehicles were displayed at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show. The fully engineered vehicle is expected to have a range of 100 miles in actual road driving patterns, in a wide range of climates and conditions. As for on-road performance, even though the concept vehicle weighs approximately 220 pounds more than the current RAV4 V-6, it accelerates from 0 to 60 miles per hour nearly as quickly. The interior features custom seat trim, multimedia dash displays, push-button shifter, and dashboard gauges. As far as utility, electric car fans will be pleased to discover that no cargo space was lost in its conversion to an electric powertrain: the electric RAV4 platform still boasts a 73-cubic-foot cargo area with rear seats folded down.

The RAV4 EV will be sold at U.S. Toyota dealers through Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. Details including pricing, volume and regional distribution will be determined and announced at a later time.

Toyota is currently the only manufacturer bringing two battery electric vehicles to the market in 2012. While the RAV4 EV will be available to the public, an electric version of the Scion iQ EV will be marketed to fleet and car sharing programs only.